Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus smiles during a press conference Rassie Erasmus was in fine form on Tuesday on the subject of mind games ahead of the Springboks’ much-anticipated clash with the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park over the weekend. Photo: Michael Sherman/IOL Sport
He may say he’s not playing mind games, and he may say he likes knowing where international rugby players like to vacation in South Africa. But on the subject of mind games, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus weaves an incredibly contrasting tapestry of intriguing theories away from the rugby pitch.
Asked on Tuesday at the Springboks team announcement, why Erasmus followed just one account on X and had the Webb Ellis trophy as his cover picture - the answer was anything but straight- forward.
It was also pointed out, that although Erasmus had over 200,000 followers on the social media platform — he only followed one account.
That account? The All Blacks of course.
Asked why he changed his cover picture to the trophy and why he followed only the All Blacks, Erasmus had a number of contrasting statements in his response.
On the subject of mind games, Springbok coach @RassieRugby Rassie Erasmus weaves an incredibly contrasting tapestry of intriguing theories away from the rugby pitch.
— IOL Sport (@IOLsport) August 27, 2024
Video: @Golfhackno1 pic.twitter.com/eCvbN1r4bO
“[I] Probably [had] a few beers. It’s not mind games. Guys tweet stuff about their team. You might learn something there. You might see a guy is not strapped, they say he is injured. It’s just like when I get the newspaper,” said Erasmus on Tuesday ahead of their Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at Ellis Park over the weekend.
“I don’t know if you guys are online still, then you go there and look at the photos. You try and see what drill are they trying to do there. It’s really just nice to know what they’re up to, when did they arrive, where do they stay. I see myself when I stay in Munster and I come here to play with them, all the other guys are excited.
“They want to land in Joburg or fly straight to Cape Town. They want to go to Kruger and those kind of things. It’s nice to see what the guys from other countries want to see.
“But the training stuff is interesting,” he said with wink.
Meanwhile, Jasper Wiese made a welcome return to the Springbok team after a long injury layoff.
“It was a bit frustrating, but I was fortunate to stay in the environment with the guys. It was six games and three and a half months, it’s been a long time. I’m really happy to be back and up for selection. Given the opportunity, I know the guys around me will do their jobs, and I will do mine the best I can.”
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